Electric device to bring earth-worms to the surface of the ground



Aug. 19, 1952 2,607,164

I W. C. FENTON ELECTRIC DEVICE TO BRING EARTHWORMS TO THE SURFACE OF THEGROUND Filed March 10, 1948 54 I Z Z/ 1 /4 INVENTOR. Wfllnl an,

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 OFFICE:

ELECTRIC DEVICE T0 BRINGEARTH- WORMS T0 GROUND THE SURFACE OF THE WilburC. Feriton, Strawberry Point, Iowa Application March 10, 1948, SerialNo.14,'126- 1 Claim. (C1. 47-13) f r f f;

My invention relates to electrocultural devices adapted to bring earthworms and the like to the surface of the ground and an object of myinvention is to provide a device f the character indicated above, whichmay be energized by conmeeting it to an outlet of a current or to aninternal combustion engine or the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterindicated above, which is equipped with a pilot light to indicate, ifthe electric current passes from the anode of the device through theground to the cathode.

Other objects of my invention not specifically mentioned may appear inthe following specification describing it with reference to theaccompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of myinvention. It is, however, to be understood, that my invention is not tobe limited or restricted to the exact construction and combination ofparts described in the specification and shown in the drawing, but thatsuch changes and modifications can be made which fall within the scopeof the claim appended hereto.

In order that my invention may be better understood I will now proceedto describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, in theseveral figures of which similar parts are indicated by similarreference characters and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an electrocultural device embodyingthe invention;

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of one of the anodes herein employed;and

Figure 3 is a view in plan and of a diagrammatic character of amodification of the invention.

Figure 4 shows the wiring diagram for the device.

The electrocultural device to bring earth worms and the like to thesurface of the ground forming the subject matter of my inventioncomprises an anode A consisting of a pointed metal rod l0 having anon-conducting handle H. An insulated electric wire [2 is secured n andelectrically connected with the anode rod Ill and leads to and through aswitch casing S. A cathode C consists of a pointed metal rod l4 having anon-conducting handle l5. An insulated electric wire [6 is secured toand electrically connected with the cathode rod [4. The switch is of aconventional type having two separable casing portions which are securedtogether by transverse screws l3 and 20.

The electric wire I2 comprises one of two wires forming the cable 20aand this wire l2. passes directly through the switch S toand iselectrically connected with the ,terminal in a conventional type of plugI8 which, as is well'know'n, usually comprises two casing sections whichare joined together by transverse screws, here designated IT and I9.

The wire it is electrically connected within the switch casing at itsother end to one of the two switch terminals designated [6a in thewiring diagram. The other switch terminal which is designated lGb in thewiring diagram, has attached theretothe other one of the two wires whichare in the cable 20a, such other wire being shown in the circuit diagramonly and designated 2012.

No details have been shown of the inside parts of the switch S in viewof the fact that such a switch is of standard well known construction asabove pointed out and it is not believed that such detailed illustrationis required for the proper understanding of the connections referred to.

When the anode and cathode rods in and M respectively are inserted inthe ground at a requisite distance from each other, the plug I8 isconnected in the conventional manner with a suitable source ofelectricity (not shown) and th switch S is closed. The current flowsthrough the ground from the anode rod ill to the cathode rod l4 drivingearth worms and the like, which are present in the ground, to thesurface thereof.

The efiicient distance between the anode and cathode rods depends on thedegree of moisture in the ground, since wet ground is a better conductorthan dry ground, and on the power of the electric current. In order toascertain if the current flows from the anode rod to the cathode rod, anelectric light 2| is provided and is connected by means of the wires 22and 23, connected with and across the conductors I2 and I 6, between theswitch S and the electrodes [0 and 14, so that the electric light 2|will be energized when the switch S is closed and the current flows fromthe anode rod to the cathode. Preferably, a neon light is used for thispurpose, since neon lights are energized by direct current as well as byalternating current.

When the electrocultural device of my invention is to be used in thefield where no outlet for an established source of electricity isavailable, a socket coupling 24 is coupled with the electric plug l8.With the two terminals (not shown) in the socket coupling 24, areconnected the insulated electric wires 27 and 28 and on the free end ofeach of these wires a metal clasp 29 and 30 respectively, or the like,is secured. On of said clasps is connected with one of the spark plugsof an internal combustion engine (not shown), and the other clasp isconnected with a metal part of the vehicle on which the engine ismounted. Then the engine is started.

The abovedescription shows'clearly that the electrocultural device of myinvention works in dry ground as well as in wet ground and drives earthworms or the like to the surface of the ground in bright daylight, sothat they can be collected easily. It also shows that my device;

may be energized by direct or alternatingcurrent.

I claim: A device of the character described. for driving worms from theground, comprising two metal electric current conducting rods 'adaptedto be thrust into the ground in spaced relation, a terminal plug havingtwo terminals for connection with opposite sides. of a current supplyline, a current conducting wire connected. between one rod and a"terminal; a' current conducting wire and a switch therein connectedbetween the other rod and the other one of the terminals, and anelectric lamp connected across the wires on the side of the switchnearest to the rods.

WILBUR C. FENTON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number i Name Date 1,494,596"Erwin May 20, 1924 1,661,030 B urt Feb. 28, 1928 1,932,237 v Warner Oct.24, 1933 2,450,597 Karnowski Oct. 5, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 320,470 Great Britain Oct. 17, 1929 ,20'1A34 Switzerland Feb; 16,1931

